by Benson Agoha | TennisAfter months of waiting, Maria Sharapova has been handed with a 2 year ban for testing positive for drugs on the banned list. The star tested positive to the drug Meldonium at the Australian Open.
You will recall that months ago, Maria Sharapova, one of the most successful female Tennis stars spoke out in a press conference that she had tested positive to the drug.
She had claimed on that occasion that she had used the drug for ten years and was unaware it had been added to the banned list, even though an email was sent to inform her about the ban.
She had said, although she got the email, she did not read to the point where the drug and the ban were mentioned. It triggered a massive TV debate weather her account could be believed.
But delivering their decision on the issue the International Tennis Federation said Sharapova, a 5-time Grand Slam champion, is suspended for 2 years.
Sharapova has however, reportedly, vowed to challenge the decision by appealing against it.
She had said, although she got the email, she did not read to the point where the drug and the ban were mentioned. It triggered a massive TV debate weather her account could be believed.
But delivering their decision on the issue the International Tennis Federation said Sharapova, a 5-time Grand Slam champion, is suspended for 2 years.
Sharapova has however, reportedly, vowed to challenge the decision by appealing against it.
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| * Maria Sharapova in action stands to lose up to £30 million in endorsements. |
The ruling was recommended by an independent three-person panel appointed by the International Tennis Federation which said Sharapova did not intend to cheat because she didn't know Meldonium was banned, but that she bore "sole responsibility" and "very significant fault" for the positive test.
In a swift response, Sharapova said in a statement that: "While the tribunal concluded correctly that I did not intentionally violate the anti-doping rules, I cannot accept an unfairly harsh two-year suspension."
She said "The tribunal, whose members were selected by the ITF, agreed that I did not do anything intentionally wrong, yet they seek to keep me from playing tennis for two years. I will immediately appeal the suspension portion of this ruling to CAS, the Court of Arbitration for Sport."
Sharapova said then she was not aware that the World Anti-Doping Agency had barred athletes from using meldonium, also known as mildronate, as of Jan. 1. Her lawyer, John Haggerty, said Sharapova took the substance after that date.
In a swift response, Sharapova said in a statement that: "While the tribunal concluded correctly that I did not intentionally violate the anti-doping rules, I cannot accept an unfairly harsh two-year suspension."
She said "The tribunal, whose members were selected by the ITF, agreed that I did not do anything intentionally wrong, yet they seek to keep me from playing tennis for two years. I will immediately appeal the suspension portion of this ruling to CAS, the Court of Arbitration for Sport."
Sharapova said then she was not aware that the World Anti-Doping Agency had barred athletes from using meldonium, also known as mildronate, as of Jan. 1. Her lawyer, John Haggerty, said Sharapova took the substance after that date.
(* With Contribution from Fox News)
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